The Drowsy Chaperone 2017

Shoreline Musical Theatre Society Presents, "The Drowsy Chaperone", November 23-25, 2017 at the Tidemark Theatre.
​  Tickets can be purchased at the Tidemark Theatre ticket box office, or online at Tidemarktheatre.com
The show is a parody of American musical comedy of the 1920’s. The story concerns a middle-aged,
asocial musical theatre fan. As she plays the record of her favourite musical, the (fictional) 1928 hit, The
Drowsy Chaperone, it comes to life onstage as she wryly comments on the music, story, and actors.​
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Winner of five Tony Awards, including Best Book and Best Original Score, The Drowsy Chaperone is a loving send-up of the Jazz Age musical, featuring one show-stopping song and dance number after another.

With the houselights down, a woman in a chair appears on stage and puts on her favorite record: the cast recording of a fictitious 1928 musical. The recording comes to life and The Drowsy Chaperone begins as the woman in the chair looks on. Mix in two lovers on the eve of their wedding, a bumbling best man, a desperate theatre producer, a not-so-bright hostess, three gangsters posing as pastry chefs, a misguided Don Juan and an intoxicated chaperone, and you have the ingredients for an evening of madcap delight.

Character Descriptions

  • Woman in the Chair: Our host, a charming, erudite and neurotic musical theatre aficionado, briefs us on.
    the genre and specifically of one of her favourite shows, its characters and the personages playing them.
  • Janet Van de Graaff: Star of Feldzieg’s Follies, Janet is conflicted about giving up her life on the stage to marry Robert Martin. The consummate 1920’s starlet, she loves being the centre of attention.
  • Robert Martin: The groom-to-be who is deeply in love with Janet, is the token 1920’s leading man – debonair, dashing and a matinée idol.
  • The Drowsy Chaperone: Janet’s alcoholic confidante is an experienced “woman of the world” and melodramatic diva to be reckoned with. She steals just about every scene she is in.
  • Aldolpho: This Latin lothario is a womanizing cad who is very impressed with himself. He is confident, vigorous and a buffoon.
  • Mrs. Tottendale: A wealthy widow and host of the wedding, she is absolutely eccentric, forgetful, bubbly and oblivious to the confusion her behaviour generates in other people.
  • Underling: Mrs. Tottendale’s unflappable butler and manservant is stoic, dry-humored and sarcastic - a perfect foil to Mrs. Tottendale. 
  • Mr. Feldzieg: Harried producer Feldzieg will do anything to stop the wedding in order to keep Janet in the Follies.
  • Kitty: A1920’s dumb blonde chorine, she is Mr. Feldzieg’s companion and will do anything to be a leading lady.
  • George: Robert’s anxious best man is loyal, sincere, and nervous. Makes looking out for Robert’s interests his top priority so that the wedding will come off without a hitch.
  • Trix the Aviatrix: The brave and brash female aviator is a sassy, sleek and take-charge gal.

Groups of Characters

  • The Reporters: Newsmen and women, they are eager to get the scoop on the starlet. 
  • The Gangsters: Jovial gangsters posing as pastry chefs, they are typical 1920’s Broadway gangsters full of word play and stylized movements.
  • The Asians: A stereotypical Asian ensemble makes its appearance. 
  • Feldzieg’s Follies Ensemble & Superintendent: A dancing/singing ensemble on stage adds pizzaz. 
  • Jazz Band Combo: A small band of instrumentalists creates the swinging groove.
  • Capable Crew: All our super-supportive, behind-the-scenes people keep the show on the stage.

Cast Members

  • Woman in Chair: Judith McFarlane
  • Janet Van de Graff: Halle Weyler
  • Robert Martin: Connor Hogg
  • The Drowsy Chaperone: Beth Miller
  • Aldolpho: Rudi Kreis
  • Mrs. Tottendale: Heather Clarke
  • Underling: Tim Myerscough
  • Mr. Feldzieg: Brian Welchman
  • Kitty: Kristine Isfeld
  • George: Nathan Glum
  • Gangsters: Kimberley Stevens, Jennifer Bill, Jana MacFarlane
  • Trix, the Aviatrix/Ensemble: Nancy Belliveau
  • Reporters/Ensemble: Lisa Spetifore, Colleen Hogg
  • ​Asian Scene/Ensemble  
    • Girl: Kristine Isfeld
    • Emperor: Rudi Kreis
    • Diva: Beth Miller
  • Superintendents/Ensemble: John Hedderson, Ashley Hogg, Donie Johnson, Rachel Myerscough
  • Ensemble: Heather Anderson, Nathalie Anderson, Shannon Baikie, Samy Grant

Production Team

  • Co-Producers- Denise Comeau-Darnell & Heather Clarke 
  • Volunteer Coordinator- Denise Comeau-Darnell
  • Artistic Director- Heather Gordon Murphy
  • Musical Directors- Kristy Miller, Jana Jurek (Assistant) 
  • Pianist- Jana Jurek 
  • Choreographers- Heather Gordon Murphy, Kristine Isfeld (Assistant) 
  • Stage Managers- Jean Wrohan, Mary Ann Stenback (Assistant) 
  • Set Design/Build- John Bailey, Ed Boucher (Assistant)
  • Costume Design/Construction- Heather Gordon Murphy & Beth Miller 
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